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Saturday-Sunday, April 19-20, 2025 Vol. 20 No. 188
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MORE THAN JUST LOOSE CHANGE Minted MNL unlocks history, elevates coin collecting in PHL
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Story by Bless Aubrey Ogerio Interview by Edwin P. Sallan
At the helm is Sigrid Carandang, Minted MNL chairperson, who sees it as a gateway to discovery and a way to preserve pieces of history, one coin at a time. “More than an event, Minted MNL is a movement—a celebration of the artifacts that connect us to the past and shape the way we preserve history for future generations,” she told the BusinessMirror. “Every piece has a journey, every coin tells a story, and at Minted MNL, we create opportunities to share these stories with the world,” she added.
E handle every day those small metal coins that jingle in our pockets, pile up in piggy banks or get handed over without a second glance. Yet, for a certain group of people, these ordinary bits of currency carry far more than just face value.
Meet the numismatists, or collectors and enthusiasts who find fascination in the details of old coins, paper money, medals and other relics that connect us to the past. It may seem like a niche pursuit. After all, not everyone
gets excited over the difference between two near-identical peso coins. But if you have ever wondered how deep that rabbit hole goes, Minted MNL, a hub for collectors, learners, and history lovers alike, might be a good place to start.
Starting point
“Every piece has a journey, every coin tells a story, and at Minted MNL, we create opportunities to share these stories with the world.”—Sigrid Carandang PHOTOS COURTESY OF MINTED MNL
BUT where does one even begin? Carandang said the organization’s mission goes beyond just the buying and selling of coins. “Whether you’re just starting or you’re a seasoned numismatist,
Minted MNL is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the hobby, meet kindred spirits, and become part of something truly extraordinary,” she assured. Even Carandang herself didn’t expect to end up in this world. Her first memory of coin collecting was as a child, eagerly checking her grandfather’s pockets for any shiny coin he brought home as a pasalubong. “What started as a childhood fascination with these small treasures quickly evolved into a lifelong passion for history, craftsmanship, and the incredible stories each coin carries,” she said.
Coining a legacy
WHAT started as a local spark in 2016 has minted itself into the Philippines’ leading stage for coin collectors and enthusiasts. Continued on A2
FAITH IN FOCUS: Cainta’s living tradition
LEAD actors portraying Jesus and Joseph receive their final touches from dedicated makeup artists, while fellow performers prepare their costumes, props, and stage gear behind the scenes—just moments before the curtain rises for the annual Senakulo staged by Krus Sa Nayon, Inc. in Cainta, Rizal. A post-war pioneer in religious street and stage theater, Krus Sa Nayon was formally registered in 1979 and earned recognition from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in 2009 for its cultural significance. Now run by the fourth and fifth generations of namamanata—sons and daughters of the earliest actors, students, and community leaders—the weeklong Holy Week reenactment continues to be a heartfelt expression of devotion, heritage, and community spirit. BERNARD TESTA
PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 56.9760 n JAPAN 0.3980 n UK 75.3906 n HK 7.3448 n CHINA 7.7888 n SINGAPORE 43.2062 n AUSTRALIA 36.0943 n EU 64.2974 n KOREA 0.0399 n SAUDI ARABIA 15.1843 Source: BSP (April 16, 2025)